Carrier for endless-belt conveyers



ay 1 F. E. SMITH CARRIER FOR ENDLESS BELT CONVEYERS Filed Nov. '7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY mm mw R. w m m m s m I my L I WM v Q S Q U Q Q V\ 1 MN m WM .w mm Q W wm 1 m Q Q J QM w QM @M v S I /||\I wm Gm w M I I IN N rm May 17,1927.

F. E. SMITH CARRIER FOR ENDLESS BELT CONVEYERS Filed Nov. '7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

1927. May F. E. SMITH CARRIER FOR ENDLESS BELT GONVEYERS Filed NOV. 7. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR.

4 04%) ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. SMITH, OF SCOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARRIER Fo'R'ENnLEss-BEL'r CONVEYERS.

Application filed November 7, 1924. Serial No. 748,353.

This invention is for an improvement in endless belt conveyers, and relates particularly to a support for the rolls of such conveyers.

The invention is for improvements in the type of support shown in my Patent No. 1,493,288 of May 6, 1924.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide an improved bearing for rollers used in supporting endless conveyers, and particularly improved bearings for p and to provide an imthe troughing rollers,

ying the proved bracket or support for ca bearings for such rolls.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

- mounted in these members.

in which:

Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section through one side of a roller' un1t where the rollers are arranged to trough the belt;

Fig. 1 is a detail view of one of the bearing supports; 1

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 1s a similar view, showing the bracket partly tipped over;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section looking down on a modified formof bracket;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar end view of a slightly modified form;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l, of a slightly modified form;

Fig. 8 is a view generally similar to Fig. 7, showing a further modified construction of end bracket and intermediate bracket;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section in the plane of line lX-JX Of Fig. 8. v

1n the drawings, 5 designates a suitable supporting frame for a conveyer, and 6 is a conveyer belt. This belt 1s supported in the usual manner on a series of transverse roller units. Each transverse roller unit has a horizontal central roller 7 and inclined side rollers 8'. These rollers are carried on shafts 9 and 10, respectively.

Mounted on the frame 5 is an end bracket supporting member 11, suitably secured totheQframe 5, as by clamping bolts 12. A transverse shaft 13 has its ends rotatably Secured to shaft 13 near each end is a bracket 14 having a flat upper end portion 15, which, if

' desired, may be transversely grooved. Set

on the top surface 15 is a separate bearing supporting extension 17.

Clamped to the lower end of bracket 14 is a second shaft 18 parallel with the shaft 13. The end of this shaft overhangs the supporting member 11, so as to prevent the arm or bracket 14 from rocking forward beyond a vertical position in a clockwise di' rection with respect to Fig. 2, but permitting the bracket to ti in a counter-clockwise direction when esired. The arm 14 will ordinarily be maintained in'a vertical osition by the weight and direction of travel of the belt, whieh will always be such as to hold the ends .of shaft 13 on the flat parts 11 of members 11.] I

Member 11 and arm 14 may/ have normally registering holes 11 and 14, through which a locking pin or bolt,'not 'shown, may pass. A suitable wrench or lever, indicated in (hit and dash lines in Figs. 2 and 3, and designated X, may be applied to shafts 13 and l8to facilitate the tipping of the supports, as'indicated in Fig. 2, for the purpose, for instance, of providing slack in the belt, or for permitting the rollers to be lowered away from the belt to make necessary repairs or adjustments.

Clamped to the shafts 13 and 18 between their ends are the supports 19. In the drawings, I have/shown only one support 19 and the bracket at one en of the roller unit, but it will be understood \that other intermediate brackets aud the other end of the unit are similarly constructed.

On the bracket 19 are oppositely directed pairs of cars 20 having slots 21 (see Fig. 1) therein to receive the shell or cup 22 of they bearings. This cup or shell has truuuions 23 thereon which engage in slots 21 the trunnions having a sharp lower edge to provide a knife-edge bearing. The slots'are of sufiicient length so that the trunnions do not bear against the inner ends thereof, the end thrust being taken up by a ball 24 in the bracket 19, against which bosses 22 on the ends of the shells 22 bear. This provides a spherical seat against which the end thrust is directed, and permits of the free working movement of the trunnions. i

Within each shell 22 is a'ball bearing 25 for the end of the shaft journaled therein, and at 26 is a removable cap. A tube 27 at the rear of the shell permits the introduction of lubricantinto the chamber back of the ball bearing.

The bearing supporting extension 17 has i mayth us be taken up in the outer bearings.

' By providing member 17 as a separate member onthe arm or bracket 14, the taking apart and assembling of the entire construe tion is facilitated, and by substituting different lengths of members 17, variation in the angles of the rollers may be secured, thereby troughing the belt to a greater or less degree.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modification, differing from the form just described only by having the upper part of the bracket, corresponding with part 17 of Fig. 1, pivotally secured tothe lower part 31 of the bracket-by a bolt 32, while the part 30 is normally held against pivoting by a removable locking pin 33. 1

In this form, also, the intermediate bracket 34 is secured to shaft (corresponding to shaft13 of Fig. 1) a transverse pin 36, permitting ofa limited swinging movement of the bracket transversely to the belt. This is of advantage in adjusting the rollers transversely. The belt, in this figure, is designated 6-, and the rollers are designated 7 and 8'. I i

It twill be obvious that, by removing pin 33, part 30 may be swung outwardly to reair the roller, unit. By removlng pivot 1t 32, the upper part of the bracket may be detached." I V In the modification illustrated in Fig; 8, the upper part 30' of-the end bracket has a transverse rib 30* received in a transverse groove 31 in the top of the bracket 31. The

. parts are held together by a diagonally extending bolt 32 having a nut thereon, the bolt being loose on the boss 33' on the upper This construction gives convenient and easy access to the end bearing 22 in which roll shaft 10 is received. It further permits the bracket to be adjusted to different angles.

In this modification, the intermediate bracket 34 straddles shaft 35 and is secured theretoby' a transverse bolt 36. Small set screws 36 may be provided to limit the endwise rocking movement of this bracket. The upper part of the bracket is not different from that shown in Fi 7 and corresponding reference numera s have accordingly been used.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated only a suflicient portion of the bearing bracket construction to illustrate a modification wherein the shaft 13 of Fig. 1 is eliminated.

In these figures, 40 designates the stationary supporting'members, inwhich is journalled a. shaft 41, corresponding to shaft 13 of 1. Fixed on this'shaft are end brackets 42 and intermediate brackets 43.

On each of the end brackets 42 is a foot 44 having an outwardly turned offset 45 thereon, which overhangs member 40. This offset terminal portion ma have a suitable means for contacting with member 40 to limit the rocking movement of shaft 41in a clockwise direction. This preferably com prises an adjusting screw 46, by means of which the forward movement of the shaft may be adjusted. I

In Fig. 6,1 have shown a slight modification from thatv shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

wherein the foot 44 is resilient, being formed of spring metal. In this figure. 40'

Various other changes and modifications may obviously be made in the construction within the contemplation of my. invention, and under the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A roller supporting structure comprising a air of fixed supporting members, a shaft ournalled therein, a bracket at each end of the shaft having a removable upper end portion pivotally secured thereto, a bearing slidably retained in each of said upper end portions, intermediate brackets on the shafts also having bearings slidably retained therein, means loosely engaging said fixed supporting members for limiting the rocking movement of the shafts, and rollers supported by the bearings in the brackets.

2. A roller supporting structure comprising a pair of fixed supporting members, a shaft journalled therein, a bracket at each end of the shaft having a removable upperend portion pivotally secured thereto, a bearing slidably retained in each of saidupper end portions, intermediate brackets transversely pivoted on the shafts also havmg bearings slidably retained therein, means loosely engaging sald fixed supporting members for limiting the rocking movement of the shafts, and rollers supported by the bearings in the brackets. i

c In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK E. SMITH. 

